~Happy Reading!

LEO

They've been flying for hours, and Leo honestly didn't know where they were going anymore. His GPS was messing up, Festus was tired (can metal dragons get tired?), he was tired and most importantly Calypso was tired. Her eyes began to droop as she attempted to get comfy on the dragon's back. Leo gave her one of her bags to use as a pillow, but she didn't find it very comfortable.

Eventually, she sat up and got closer to Leo. "Scoot," she commanded. Leo obeyed, moving over to the side and leaned back, resting himself on the start of Festus's tail. Calypso moved closer to him, placing her head on his chest and snuggled into him. Hesitantly, he wrapped his free arm around her shoulder.

This is what I'm supposed to do, right?

Calypso shivered against him. "Ugh, you're not any warmer than I am. Thanks for being scrawny." She complained.

"Uh, you're welcome?"

Calypso smiled, burying herself deeper into his chest. Leo stroked her hair, letting his fingers brush through the long strands of amber. "Tell me a story."

Leo furrowed his eyebrows. A story? "What kind?"

"Any." Calypso pushed herself up, resting her hand on her neck, looking Leo straight in the eye. Leo could read them perfectly. There was mischief swimming around in them, alongside her kindness and enthusiasm. They were also giving off a feeling that was mysterious, and you had to figure her out yourself, which Leo was gladly willing to do. Leo gently pushed her back onto his chest, and continued stroking her hair. "Tell me one you've never told anyone before."

Leo wasn't exactly what someone would call a story-teller. He didn't know very many stories, even though he wanted to. There were the long, lost folk tales his mother used to tell him when he was little, and he'd fall asleep instantly. Then there were stories about their family, and crazy some of the relatives on his mother's side were when it came to the holidays. She'd tell them to him while she was working, and he'd be listening while fixing cars with her. Leo blinked. Just like that, he found a story to tell.

"Once upon a time, there was a little boy. He had a loving mother, no father, a psycho nanny, and an aunt that hated him." Leo paused, not sure if he was strong enough to even go past that line. He decided to bear through it, marching on. "His mom worked in a mechanic shop, and that's where the boy found his passion of building things. He didn't know why, but every time he picked up a tool, and a broken object, he felt indescribable joy, fixing the object in a flash and asked for another. His mother was the sweetest person anyone could meet. She sang songs to him, taught his native tongue, and the smile on her face could never be wiped off. She knew of her son's love for tools, and allowed him to work on pretty much anything. His mom would chuckle, telling him, 'oh, querido, you are so clever! You are absolutely wonderful'."

Leo's lower lip trembled, and he felt the tears beginning to build in his eyes, blinking them back the best he could. He was beyond sick of crying. He'd spent so long preventing it from happening every night, and he finally achieved it when he hit the age of twelve. Now for all that effort to potentially get washed away. Calypso saw this, and with pursed lips she took Leo's hand and stroked it gently.

"Then she got taken away from me," he continued shakily. "An evil witch made the boy's haven burn into nothing but ash, dust, and destruction. His mom was trapped inside, and even though he didn't know he could walk straight through the flames, he could hear her screaming, telling him to run. The pain in her voice from the fire and the fact her son would have to go on without her. She was burning in the flames and he couldn't do a single thing about it..."

Leo's voice broke, and it was his point of no return. Little streams of tears rolled out of his eyes, unable to stop. He rubbed his eyes as quick as he could, only to find more tears on the way. He wanted to tell her the story, he really did, but it was just something he couldn't replay in his head. Calypso sat up immediately, regretting asking him in the first place. She gently guided his head to her chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She stroked his hair, hoping to calm him down as he desperately held onto her around the waist.

"Then, years later, the boy found out he is a demigod," she continued for him. Leo's sniffles almost subsided when he heard her continuing the story. "Not just any demigod, but a powerful son of Hephaestus. He has a special gift that no demigod has had in a hundred years, and a smile that could light up the world. He became wickedly smart, caring, and was also making sure others would smile around him."

"One day he got into an accident. He crash landed on an immortal girl's dining table, burning it to pieces. She didn't like him at first, mainly because he destroyed her dining table, but mainly because she thought he was annoying. Eventually, over time, she began to fall in love," Calypso ran her fingers through his hair gently. Leo got quiet, listening to the rest. He's never really heard anyone say good things about him, maybe because they never had anything to say. "It wasn't because she is cursed to fall in love with anyone who landed on her island, but because she truly did fall in love. Maybe it was because of his dumb jokes, his dorky smile, or how it is impossible to upset around him. Annoyed, maybe a little, but upset is nearly impossible."

Leo wiped a tear from his cheek. "So you think my jokes are enjoyable, then?" He asked shakily, breathing out a nervous laugh. Calypso rolled her eyes, punching his arm playfully.

"I said dumb, not enjoyable." Though her cheeky smile told him they were. Leo gave her a lopsided smile, leaning in and kissing her on the lips. He pulled away, sighing deeply in content.

"Thank you," he whispered to her. "I don't think I've ever gotten a compliment in my life."

"Well, you deserve more." She gave his lips another peck before returning back to her original position. Leo wrapped his arm around her once again as she nestled into him, with the crisp, fresh air gently blowing against their faces.

"How do you think they're going to react when they see me? I mean, they think I'm dead. Jason and Piper, they're my best friends, how can they ever trust me again after all this? What if they're not even alive once I get back?"

"Hey, don't think about that. That's something you should not dwell over." She whispered soothingly, rubbing a hand up and down his arm. "I'm sure they'll understand. They accepted your bravery, sacrificing yourself for the others, and I'm sure they will be thrilled to see you again."

"I'm sure going to give them the heebie-jeebies," Leo scoffed. Calypso laughed softly, giving a large yawn.

"Let's sleep." She suggested. Leo pouted playfully.

"But if I sleep, I don't get to see your beautiful face," Leo continued pouting like a puppy dog. Calypso laughed, and smacked his arm.

"These are the stupid jokes I was talking about! Leo Valdez, you are just so...so..."

"So, what?"

She crinkled her nose at him. "I'll think of something. For now, sleep."

"But-"

"Leo Valdez, I know a very good sleep song that can charm you to sleep for a century or two, so if you don't go to sleep, I'm going to use it on you."

Leo reluctantly shuffled for a replacement pillow.

He turned towards her, their noses nearly touching. Leo pushed several strands of hair that fell in front of her face behind her ear, and she smiled softly at him, her eyelids fluttering. "Good night, Calypso."

"Night..." She mumbled back. With the little energy she had left, she grabbed Leo's hand and he laced their fingers. He made sure she was fully asleep first before allowing his heavy lids to close as well. Festus hummed, the crickets chirped below them, the night was silent as they continued their journey back home.

Told you it'd be a fast update! Didn't think it'd be this fast though. Consider yourselves lucky.

Next chapter is being worked on, and that one will probably be up around next week or so. Again, happy holidays!

Review this maybe? Thanks!